Dating is hard enough - when you're a single parent it's more so...
Lovely seeing Emma Willis and Jamie East on Big Brothers Bit On The Side last night. Typical I forgot so many of the points I wanted to make - but it was fun, fun, fun and the whole team there are amazing. Crikey, didn't realise my hair looked like I'd been for wind tunnel but there was a fan blasting in the green room as it was roasting - Ha! Guess you should always check things like that but we were all chatting about the housemates and I completely forgot.
Now, on to the serious stuff - have/are you been a single parent looking for love? What was it like when you met someone and introduce them to your children? A fraught situation for all concerned - I know that both professionally and having been there personally.
Today I've tackled this dilemma in my weekly Love Clinic on iVillage UK
With increasing numbers of divorces and cohabiting couples breaking-up, this is now an incredibly common problem. In fact three years ago a number of us agony aunts got together and formed "Kids in the Middle" to get parents thinking about how breakups and new relationships affect their children.
Before I give the tip there is an article today about the 10 films every child should see before the age of 10. There were lots of great films listed but how about children also needing to get out in the fresh air - unfortunately child's play has changed so radically in the last 20 years.
Children that once had more freedom and got outside - and got dirty - but are now glued to technology in their bedrooms. Getting outside and being rambunctious helped teach them life lessons, like how to think for yourself, how to get out of scrapes, even the sheer physicality of childhood was beneficial, etc.
Sometimes I think parents need reminding of this simple fact that kids should get out and get their knees dirty long before there were mobile phones to sit around and watch YouTube on...I hope yours are getting plenty of fresh air!
TODAY’S TIP: Back to single parent dating - I think the most crucial tip is to constantly remind yourself that when you're falling for this new person - and you have love and lust hormones rushing through your body - to still make good, sound decisions when it comes to your children.
Don't introduce a new person too quickly and don't ever let your child think that you're trying to replace their real mummy or daddy with this new person.
Look after yourself, Pamx